FINALLY . . . the devil was going out of business!
In this old fable, the devil’s “tools of the trade” were being auctioned off to the highest bidder. On the day of the big event, all his instruments of evil were attractively displayed:
Jealousy
Hatred
Deception
Discouragement
Sensuality
Pride
Idolatry
Each tool was marked with its opening bid.
At the far end of the display sat a harmless looking, but well-used wedge. It was a simple element but it carried a price higher than any of the other tools.
"What is that?" someone asked, pointing to the wedge. "Oh, that one . . . that is Division," came the devil's reply. The inquisitive shopper took no time to raise the obvious question: "And why is its price so high? It is plain to see that it is more worn than all the other tools."
"Because," replied the evil one, "it is my most useful tool. All I need to do is find a little crack in a marriage, among classmates, within a family, in a business, or inside a church and I can drive them apart."
The little wedge was priced so high that no one could buy it. The tool was never sold and the devil went back to doing what he does best -- deceiving and dividing God's people.
How different the ministry of Jesus is! On the way to Gethsemane Jesus prayed for his disciples:
I do not ask for these only, but also for those who will believe in me through their word, that they may all be one, just as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me. John 17:20-21 ESV
There was a reason Jesus prayed for us in the Gethsemane’s garden. Christian unity is ultimately redemptive:
“... that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me.”
Unity is much bigger than “kum ba yah.” It is about an onlooking world believing the Christ we proclaim because they see the difference in our lives. This is why wherever believers gather in a godly enterprise we can be certain the devil will work to divide us.
Today, because the evil one is still in the evil business of division, pray for the unity of God's people. Pray for it . . . in your marriage, among your classmates, within your family, in your business, your school, and most definitely inside your church.
As Peter writes, “seek peace and pursue it.”